Grilled Bone in Chicken Thighs How to Cook Everything

How to Grill Chicken Thighs (boneless + bone-in) – Learn how to master grilling chicken thighs so they turn out PERFECTLY every time!!! Find all the tips and tricks below!

A plate of grilled chicken thighs with some broccolini.

Fire up those grills!

How to Grill Chicken Thighs 101

I don't know about you guys but chicken thighs are my favorite cut of chicken (yes, more than chicken breasts!). And today we are talking ALL about how to grill the perfect chicken thigh! Here are a couple common questions you guys have when it comes to grilling this cut of meat:

What temperature should my grill be to cook chicken thighs?

It depends upon whether you are grilling boneless or bone-in chicken thighs:

For boneless chicken thighs your grill should be at approximately 400 degrees.
For bone-in chicken thighs your grill should be at approximately 450 degrees.

How long does it take to grill chicken thighs?

Again, this depends upon whether you are grill boneless or bone-in chicken thighs!

For boneless chicken thighs you will be grilling them for approximately 8 minutes.
For bone-in chicken thighs you will be grilling them for approximately 10-13 minutes.

Do I start with skin-side down when grilling bone-in chicken thighs?

Yes! Grill with skin down first so it crisps up nicely. Keep skin side down for 3-5 minutes and then flip over. You will then keep it skin-side up for the duration of the cooking time. If you cook the skin-side longer than 3-5 minutes, the skin will become over-cooked and super, SUPER crispy! Once you flip it over, it will depend how thick your chicken thighs are, but you will cook for an additional 7 minutes or so -or until the internal temp is 165.

What if I don't have a meat thermometer?

I would highly, HIGHLY recommend a meat thermometer if you are doing any sort of grilling with bone-in chicken thighs are chicken breasts. If you don't have a meat thermometer, you will know that the chicken is cooked all the way through if its juices run clear once you remove it from the grill and let it rest for a minute. If you find that you haven't cooked your chicken all the way back through, return it to the grill quickly and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes at the same temp.

Easy Grilled Chicken Thigh Marinade + Dry Rub

Check out this delicious cilantro lime chicken marinade if you want to liven things up or this easy chicken dry rub!

A pan of seasoned, raw bone-in chicken thighs.

A plate of seasoned, raw, boneless and skinless chicken thighs.

Bone-in and skin-in chicken thighs on the grill.

A plate of grilled chicken thighs with broccolini.

A plate of grilled chicken thighs, boneless, with broccolini and mustard mayo dip.

Other recipes you might like:

How to Perfectly Grill Chicken Breasts
Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken
Cilantro Lime Shrimp

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Description

How to grill boneless OR bone-in chicken thighs like a pro!

6 boneless or bone-in chicken thighs
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper

Boneless Chicken Thighs:

Bring grill up to medium high heat (about 400 degrees).
Combine salt and pepper in a little bowl.
Place chicken on plate and sprinkle both sides with the salt and pepper mixture.
Grill chicken on direct heat (directly over flame) for 3-4 minutes per side (the bigger the thigh the longer you will need to cook it), flipping once.
Remove from grill once the internal temp has reached 165.
Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Bone-In Chicken Thighs

Bring grill up to high heat (about 450 degrees).
Combine salt and pepper in a little bowl.
Place chicken on plate and sprinkle both sides with the salt and pepper mixture, ensure you get some under the skin.
Grill chicken skin-side down on direct heat (directly over flame) for 3-5 minutes and then flip.
Cook on other side until internal temp reaches 165 (use a meat thermometer).
Remove from gill and let rest for 5 minutes.

Notes

Meat Thermometer: Having a meat thermometer is SO helpful when cooking with meat, especially chicken which has to reach an internal temp (at the thickest part) of 165 before it is safe to eat. If you DON'T have a meat thermometer, you know your chicken is done when the juices run clear once you remove it from the grill. I would highly recommend purchasing a meat thermometer, especially for bone-in chicken thighs and large chicken breasts as they seem to b the hardest to really cook all the way through.
Cook Time Listed: Note that the total cook time listed is 8 minutes – this is for boneless chicken thighs. Bone-in chicken thighs will be closer to 10-13 minutes, depending upon how thick they are.

Keywords: how to grill chicken thighs, grilled chicken thighs, boneless chicken thighs, bone-in chicken thighs

how to grill chicken thighs Pinterest pin.